Golf club



June 2, 1925. 1,540,559

J. J. MURPHY GOLF CLUB Filed Ocb. 20, ,1924

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Patented June 2, 1925.

UNITED STATES 1,540,559 PATENT OFFICE. A

JOHN J. MURPHY, OI NORWICH, CONNECTICUT.

GOLF ,.CLUB.

Application fllcd October 20, 1924. Serial No. 744,759;

. tion.

My present invention relates to improvements in golf clubs and aims toprovide a construction in which the handle or shaft will be easilyattachable and detachable, but when attached will be held firmly inposition. This is of material advantage from the standpoint of theprofessional by reason of the fact that an assortment of heads ofvarious styles and weights can be carried sufficient to satisfy localdemands, with a minimum assortment of shafts, which latter constitutethe most expensive parts of the clubs. This enables the customer to pickout the type of head desired and have it fitted with a shaft of thedesired feel and flexibility, resulting in the possibility of supplyingthe varied wants of customers with a material reduction in quantity andcost of stock carried on hand.

Another advantage is the ability to make quick repair in case ofbreakage of the shaft.

I have also aimed to provide a club in which varying degrees offlexibility may be secured by one and the same handle or shaft.

The invention is shown herein as 'embodied in a wooden club of thedriver or brassie type, though it will be understood that I do not limitmyself to a club of this specific character.

In order that the invention may be better understood, I have appendedhereto explanatory drawings, in which Figure l is a perspective view ofa driver embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section.

Figs. 3 to 5 are detail views.

Referring by reference characters to this drawing, the numeral 1designates the club head and 2 the handle or shaft, the latter being ofthe metal or tubular steel type, which is increasing in popularity.

The neck of the club is reinforced by an exterior sleeve or ferrule 3,and is provided with a longitudinal axial bore 1 which extends throughto the bottom face of the club, being lined on the inside adjacent itslower end with a sleeve or ferrule 4 which is countersunk in the bore orpassage. The ferrule is provided with exterior teeth or serrations 4 sothat it may be driven into the opening and will be retained by the teethagainst accidental displacement before insertion of the handle.

The handle or shaft 2 is made of oval or elliptical shape in crosssection, except at the hand grip portion 2 and at the lower end 2 whereit is made cylindrical to fit the bore 1 and interior of sleeve 4, andsaid lower end is provided with a tubular bore 2 which is internallyscrew threaded to fit the threads of the holding screw;

For convenience of manufacture, the body of the shaft and the portion 2*are made separate and united in a suitable manner as by brazing orwelding, the joint part 5 having preferably the appearance of a taperedferrule which, like the ferrule 3, has its exterior surface formed tosimulate the customary club Winding, though this is not material.

The inner edge of the ferrule 3 is provided with teeth or serrations 3,and the lower edge of the part 5, or corresponding portion of the shaft,is provided with coactin teeth or projections 5* adapted to inter ockwith the serrations 3 The customer having selected the desired club headand handle, it only remains to insert the lower end of the shaft in thebore and insert and tighten the holding screw 6, whereby the club headwill be rigidly locked to the shaft and any rotary movement thereonprevented by the interlocking serrations.

If a maximum stiffness of handle is desired, the shaft is placed in thesocket with the longest diameterof its ellipse parallel to the line offlight of the ball (see Fig. 5), which also reduces wind resistance;while if maximum flexibility is desired, the shaft is' applied with thelongest diameter of its ellipse at right angles to the line of flight(see Fig. 4). Varying degrees of flexibility or resiliency between theseextremes can be secured by regulating or limiting the amount of turngiven to the shaft.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 3, the outer end of the ferrule 4 isenlarged to receivethe head of the holding screw 6, which bears againstan internal shoulder 4", there being a corresponding external shoulder 4which assists in preventing the ferrule being drawn into the wood. Inthis form the exterior of the reduced portion is provided with screwthreads 4 of the wood screw type, and the enlarged outer end of the ferrule with kerfs so that it may be screwed into position by the use of ascrew driver.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A golf clubcomprising a head having its neck provided with a bore or recessprovided with a non-circular portion, a shaft having a lower end fittingsaid recess and having a part of corresponding non-circular shape, andmeans for releasably locking said shaft in said bore.

2. A golf club comprising a head having its neck provided with a tubularbore or recess, a shaft having a cylindrical lower end fitting saidbore, said shaft and said neck having annularly arranged interlockingprojections, and means for releasably locking said shaft in said bore.

3. A golf club comprising a head having its neck provided with a tubularbore or recess, a shaft having a body of elliptic shape in cross sectionand a cylindrical lower end fitting said bore, said shaft and said neckhaving annularly arranged interlocking projections, and means forreleasably locking said shaft ,in said bore.

4. A wooden golf club comprising a head having its neck provided with atubular bore 01' recess, and a metal ferrule surrounding said neck andprovided at its outer end with an annular series of serrations, and ashaft having its body of elliptic shape in cross section and providedwith a cylindrical lower end fitting said bore of the neck and with anannular enlargement provided with ser-' rations interlocking with theserrations of the neck ferrule, and means for holding the shaft end inthe said bore.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOHN J. MURPHY.

